Caravella
Aerospace Caravellair three wheel roadable aircraft, Light Sport Aircraft Pilot News
newsmagazine.
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Light Sport Aircraft Pilot is a directory of aircraft that generally fit
into what are described as ultralight aircraft, advanced ultralight
aircraft,
light sport aircraft, experimental light sport aircraft, experimental
aircraft, amateur built aircraft, ELSA or homebuilt
aircraft in the United States and Canada. These include
weight shift aircraft, more commonly known as trikes,
powered parachutes, and powered para-gliders.
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Caravella
Aerospace Caravellair three wheel roadable aircraft
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At Airventure 2008 I had the
pleasure of interviewing Joe Caravella of Caravella
Aerospace.
Joe had an idea for a "roadable aircraft," that
is a vehicle that can be driven legally on the road, yet has
the ability to unfold a set of wings and take off from an
airport.
His concept at that time was basically a bunch of sheet
metal duct taped together.
Joe was at Airventure 2010
with a "flight capable prototype fuselage, for a three
wheeled roadable aircraft." The unit is powered by a
Kawasaki motorcycle, and uses the front end components from
a "Smart 4 - 2" automobile.
The craft features a three axis control yoke, meaning that
all three flight controls are operated by hand. You pull
back and push forward to go up and down, with the control
stick moving side to side for pitch, roll and yaw controlled
by the steering yoke. |
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This allows for the brake,
gas, and clutch pedal which would be used for driving down
the road and operating the motorcycle drive train to be
located on the floor. The unit has been driven and once
lights etc have been added will be licensed as a three
wheel street legal vehicle in California, where it will
continue being road tested.
The wings on the Caravella
consist of three hinged wing panels which are manually
folded and rest on the side of the fuselage. The tail booms
are tucked neatly away beside the fuselage, and the tail
section which when retracted sits up against the rear of the
unit, is pulled rearward and manually locked into position.
Joe indicates that a
computer mock up of the unit shows a top speed of just
over 100 knots, with the LSA version having a stall below 45
knots. The plan is to begin flight testing in early 2011.
For more information
contact:
www.caravella.aero |
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Caravella Aerospace
Caravellair three wheel roadable aircraft |
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